Featured photos

Canada got the last hurrah at the Celebration of Light Saturday evening, closing the three-night event with a winning display. Canada was declared the winner of the event, with Brazil and China finishing second and third, respectively.

Commissioner denies conflict in pursuing Christy Clark investigation

Paul Fraser will ‘make the decision that needs to be made’ despite son working for Clark

B.C.’s Conflict Commissioner Paul Fraser says he sees no problem investigating an allegation against Premier Christy Clark, even though his son is a longtime friend of Clark’s and works as a senior official within her government. “I don’t perceive a problem in making a decision in this case that will have nothing to do with my son’s career,” Fraser said Thursday in response to a question on the issue by The Vancouver Sun.

Photograph by: Andrew Vaughan
, THE CANADIAN PRESS

VICTORIA — B.C.’s Conflict Commissioner Paul Fraser says he sees no problem investigating an allegation against Premier Christy Clark, even though his son is a longtime friend of Clark’s and works as a senior official within her government.

“I don’t perceive a problem in making a decision in this case that will have nothing to do with my son’s career,” Fraser said Thursday in response to a question on the issue by The Vancouver Sun.

Fraser did acknowledge “there will be people who will connect the dots in their own way,” but said he is confident there is no personal conflict.

“I’m used to people making suggestions that somehow appearance is everything without substance,” he said, citing his service as a special prosecutor and as the chair of a royal commission on pornography and prostitution during the 1980s.

“If I had any difficulty, or felt that I in any way couldn’t handle this file like I do every file — on the basis that I will go where it takes me, and I will make the decision that needs to be made without, dare I say it, fear or favour — then I should pack it in,” he said.

Fraser’s son is John Paul Fraser, who Clark’s government hired in April 2011 to be an assistant deputy minister in the communications department.

John Paul Fraser, who has been quoted as saying he’s known Clark for more than 20 years, volunteered on her leadership campaign.

He also worked for Clark’s ex-husband, Mark Marissen, at the government relations firm Burrard Communications.

This week, Independent MLA John van Dongen publicly revealed he has asked Conflict Commissioner Fraser to determine if Clark broke the Member’s Conflict of Interest Act in 2003 by participating in cabinet meetings where the sale of BC Rail was being discussed.

Clark declared a conflict at one point during that process, saying Marissen had done some consulting work for the company that shepherded the bidding process. She added at the time, however, the work Marissen did was not directly related to the BC Rail transaction.

Clark recused herself from a vote in the legislature and from one cabinet meeting as a result, but van Dongen now wants to know if she followed the rules during the entire process.

On Thursday, Paul Fraser said the first phase of his investigation is already underway.

“In the primary stage, I’m going to be talking to people and I’m going to be getting information from whoever I think can be of assistance. That process is being organized and has in fact begun in some respects already,” he said.

“When I’ve gathered that information I will make a decision on whether or not we move to the next level, which would be more formal.”

A spokesman in Clark’s office added in an email that Clark’s office is aware of the relationship between John Paul Fraser and the conflict commissioner, and that “John Paul has and will be kept out of any discussion involving the investigation.”

B.C.’s Conflict Commissioner Paul Fraser says he sees no problem investigating an allegation against Premier Christy Clark, even though his son is a longtime friend of Clark’s and works as a senior official within her government. “I don’t perceive a problem in making a decision in this case that will have nothing to do with my son’s career,” Fraser said Thursday in response to a question on the issue by The Vancouver Sun.

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.